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Before youbuying CBD oiloil, we feel it's important to present this Guide: What is full spectrum CBD oil?
La réponse courte : il s‘agit d’une huile de CBD qui contient tous les cannabinoïdes, des terpènes ainsi que des traces de THC <0,3% en France.
For more curious readers, we invite you to read this guide to understand the issues involved in choosing a Full Spectrum CBD oil.
Full spectrum oil guide summary
Full spectrum CBD oil: definition
L'full spectrum CBD oilis one of the most sought-after products, as its composition is faithful to the molecular baggage contained in hemp flowers.
In other words, it's a way of enjoying all the therapeutic benefits of hemp without having to smoke it.
What does full spectrum CBD oil contain?
A full-spectrum oil contains :
- Vegetable oil, most often hemp seed oil. It is very rich in nutrients (notably omega 3 and 6) and has the advantage of not congealing at low temperatures, as is the case with most vegetable oils;
- CBD, whose concentration varies according to the oil (generally from 5% to 30%);
- Minor cannabinoids such as cannabinol(CBN) and cannabigerol(CBG), of which there are over a hundred. These cannabinoids are synthesized in very small quantities in the plant (less than 1%), but they play a crucial role in the presumed therapeutic effects of CBD. We'll come back to this point a little later.
- Tetrahydronnabidiol (aka THC), the cannabinoid responsible for the hallucinogenic effects of cannabis. However, as its concentration is less than 0.3%, it has no psychotropic effect and does not compromise the legal nature of full spectrum CBD oils.
- Terpenes, small molecules belonging to the hydrocarbon family that are responsible for the taste and smell of many plants. This means that full spectrum CBD oil tastes like hemp. It's important to make sure that the terpenes in the oil are hemp terpenes, not synthetic terpenes.
- Flavonoids, the star antioxidants found in plants such as hemp.
When in doubt, don't hesitate to ask for the results of laboratory analyses that guarantee the oil's composition: CBD concentration, THC levels, terpene profile, it's all there!
Full oil production process
Even if you don't claim to be an expert in CBD products, it's worth knowing, in broad terms, how a full spectrum CBD oil is made. This kind of knowledge allows you to unmask certain marketing abuses and will help you choose a good quality oil.
Here's how to make a full spectrum CBD oil:
- Harvesting hemp flowers;
- Extraction of the cannabinoids (Hemp's active ingredients) contained in the flowers using a solvent. Most often, this is CO2 in a supercritical state, as this offers a good yield without damaging the plant's components. However, at Nobilis, we use bioethanol for its organic and biological origin;
- The previous step produces what is known in the trade as crude. This is a viscous liquid which contains, in addition to cannabinoids and terpenes, a number of undesirable substances such as chlorophyll and vegetable fats, which is why it is then "winterized" in short: purified.
- It is then added to vegetable oil, in this case organic hemp seed oil;
All stages of production are crucial, but the extraction stage is particularly so: if not carried out correctly, the oil will contain less cannabinoids and fewer terpenes. It will therefore be potentially less effective.
Difference between full and broad spectrum CBD oil
You may also have heard of broad spectrum CBD oils. And you're wondering what the difference is with a full spectrum oil.
The definition of a broad spectrum oil is not straightforward, as it can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. In fact, technically, it's a broad spectrum CBD oil, which you'll agree is pretty vague!
A "real" broad spectrum oil is produced in the same way as a full spectrum oil, except that the extract used is CBD distillate, which contains no THC, and not Crude.
However, some manufacturers use this term to designate a CBD oil that contains a few targeted cannabinoids (e.g. CBN and CBG) as well as terpenes, or none at all. This is a misnomer, as this type of oil is not made from crude, but from distillate, which is a purified version of crude, and therefore much less faithful to what is found in the flowers.
Note that oils made with targeted cannabinoids are not inferior, but they are different products.
Why choose a full spectrum CBD oil?
Common uses of full-spectrum CBD oils
Full spectrum CBD oil is generally recommended for people who:
- Are not against consuming a product that contains traces of THC;
- Above all, they seek a global effect, a rebalancing of the body as a whole. Remember that the main action of CBD and cannabinoids is to restore the body's (and psyche's) homeostasis;
- We've heard of the famous "entourage effect" and want to share it with their bodies. (If you don't know what this is, don't worry, we'll explain it all in the next paragraph).
Full spectrum oil may also be suitable for people suffering from stress and anxiety, who wish to take advantage of CBD's tranquilizing effects, as well as for those suffering from a variety of aches and pains who wish to benefit from its anti-inflammatory action.
However, there are oils specially formulated to meet these needs. At Nobilis, for example, we offer "Stress and Sleep" oil enriched with CBN, and "Pain and Inflammation" oil enriched with CBG.
The entourage effect theory
For those of you who don't know what theentourage effect is, here's a little catch-up.
This is a theory, developed by Dr. Ethan Russo, according to which hemp molecules act synergistically. In particular, it suggests that the presence of all cannabinoids, as well as terpenes, potentiates the effects of CBD. In other words, full spectrum oils are potentially more effective.
However, it's worth noting that this theory is based primarily on experiments carried out on therapeutic cannabis, and not on products based on hemp-derived molecules.(sources) Moreover, rather than efficacy, Russo focuses primarily on the fact that the effects of cannabis varieties vary according to the plant's CBD/THC content and terpene profile.
The entourage effect is a fascinating subject, and we encourage you to read up on it.
Is full spectrum oil more effective than other oils?
If we believe the entourage effect theory, we're tempted to answer that yes, CBD oil is more effective when it's full spectrum. However, in reality, there are a whole host of other criteria to consider, including :
- The quality of the oil is, without doubt, the most important factor in its effectiveness. We'll give you some practical advice on how to recognize a good quality oil in the next paragraph;
- Dosage is another fundamental factor, as cannabinoids are capricious molecules that only work if consumed in the right proportions (neither too much nor too little).
- Finally, it's important to remember that the effectiveness of any CBD product will vary from person to person. We don't all react in the same way to cannabinoids. Some people may experience noticeable effects, while others perceive very mild ones.
In short, to say that one full spectrum CBD oil is more effective than another is not entirely true. However, as a product that contains all the molecular richness of hemp in the most faithful way, full spectrum oil is rightly often considered the Rolls Royce of CBD oils.
How to choose your full spectrum CBD oil
Choosing a CBD oil is not always easy. Even just choosing the right concentration of cannabidiol can be difficult. And then, as we mentioned earlier, the quality of the full-spectrum oil is essential if you want to achieve the desired effects.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind before purchasing a full spectrum CBD oil.
What concentration of CBD?
5,10,15,20 and even 30% ... CBD oils (full spectrum or not) come in dozens of different concentrations. So how do you know which one is right for you?
Basically, you can buy any concentration, but this will simply influence the number of drops you need to take. In fact, the higher the concentration, the fewer drops you'll need!
Thus, the concentration of CBD oil depends on your experience with cannabinoids:
- If you've never taken CBD before, then we recommend starting with a low-dose oil, between 5 and 10%, depending on your build and the intensity of your symptoms;
- If you're a regular consumer of CBD (flowers, e-liquids, etc.), then you already know more or less how much CBD works for you. In that case, you might consider buying a more concentrated oil, between 15% and 20%, depending on your build and symptoms.
The more concentrated the oil, the more expensive it is.
Provenance: why choose CBD oils made in France? 🇫🇷
You can read everywhere that French full spectrum CBD oils are of better quality than their foreign counterparts. This is generally true. At least when it comes to oils made from flowers grown in France.
Indeed, as you may know, the maximum THC content of flowers varies between EU countries. Our neighbors can indeed sell flowers with THC levels above 0.3%. Flowers imported into France are generally washed to lower the concentration of the prohibited cannabinoid.
Certain (costly) techniques make it possible to lower THC levels without damaging terpenes or altering the concentration of other cannabinoids. But most of the time, the flowers are simply washed with a solvent, which has a negative impact on their quality.
As a result, a full spectrum oil made from lower-quality flowers is bound to be of poorer quality. Not to mention the fact that it will be much harder to tell whether the flowers in question are organically grown.
What about the organic label? 🍃
It's probably pointless repeating why it's important to choose a full spectrum CBD oil from organic farming. However, it is interesting to know how to verify that an oil stamped "organic" is indeed so.
In fact, at the moment, it' s extremely complicated to obtain organic certification. We know this, because we are currently in the process of carrying out the necessary procedures to obtain an organic label, and we are suffering, despite the fact that :
- The flowers we use to make our oils are organically grown;
- The hemp oil contained in our oils is also organic;
- We use an organic and biological solvent (bioethanol) to extract the hemp molecules.
In short, all is well with our CBD oils, and yet we can't get official certification. And we highly doubt that our competitors can.
So, as a consumer, how do you know whether an oil is organic or not? Well, your only recourse is to choose a brand that you trust and that can provide you with :
- A certificate of origin for the flowers used;
- The process used to make the oil ;
- Laboratory analysis results to verify the absence of any inorganic substances.
What is the average price of a full spectrum CBD oil?
Another criterion you can use to identify a good-quality full spectrum CBD oil is price.
As we mentioned earlier, full spectrum oil is the most expensive of all. On average, you can expect to pay around 25 to 30 euros for 10 ml of 10% full spectrum oil.
Bear in mind that the higher the dosage, the more expensive the oil. An oil containing 20% can cost 30 to 40 euros.
How to use full spectrum CBD oil?
To conclude on CBD oil full spectrum, it remains for us to give you some consumption advice. However, if you have the slightest doubt, don't hesitate to contact our team. We'll be delighted to help you make the most of the benefits of our oils. For the brave, we invite you to read our guide How to choose your Full Spectrum CBD oil?
Calculate the right dosage
The question of dosage is a complex one, as there is no universal dosage. The amount of CBD you need to take to enjoy its benefits varies from person to person, depending on weight, state of health, intensity of symptoms and sensitivity of the endocannabinoid system (= set of receptors to which cannabinoids bind once in the body).
Moreover, as we've already mentioned, CBD is a capricious molecule that only works if taken in the right proportions. Its effectiveness follows an inverted U-shaped curve. In other words, you need neither too much nor too little(sources).
For this reason, we recommend starting with a low dose: around 3 drops of an oil containing 10% CBD, which represents 15 mg CBD/day. If you don't feel any effect, you can increase the dose by a further 5mg (i.e. one drop) a day every 7 to 10 days until you reach the optimum dosage.
In the event of severe symptoms, you can start your initial dose at 20 mg/day.
To help you calculate the ideal number of drops, here's a small table summarizing the amount of CBD in a drop of full spectrum CBD oil dosed at 10%.
Percentage of CBD oil | Quantity of CBD in 10ml (approx. 200 drops) | Quantity of CBD per drop |
10 % | 1,000 mg | 5 mg |
15 % | 1,500 mg | 7.5 mg |
20 % | 2,000 mg | 10 mg |
25 % | 2,500 mg | 12.5 mg |
Recommended route of administration for CBD oils
CBD oil is appreciated, among other things, for its versatility of use. It can be taken orally, mixed into a drink or dish, or cutaneously, applied directly to the skin or mixed into a cream.
However, it 's the sublingual route that should be prioritized, as this allows you to benefit from better bioavailability. In this way, the liver does not degrade the precious cannabinoids.
We recommend placing the drops under the tongue and leaving them on for a few moments, until the mucous membrane has absorbed the oil's active ingredients.
Precautions to be taken
According to the WHO, CBD is a safe molecule for health.
Moreover, most studies show that its consumption has no side effects up to 1600 mg CBD/day, which represents more than one bottle dosed at 15%. As a precautionary measure, however, it is recommended not to exceed a daily dose of 800 mg(sources).
CBD oil full spectrum is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, nor for children. People undergoing treatment should consult their doctor to prevent any possible drug interaction.
Finally, as CBD oil contains traces of THC, it's important to know that in the event of a police check, the screening test may turn out to be positive and lead to a fine. To find out more on the subject, we recommend you read this article or contact us to discuss the matter.
